Touring the north

Hi, here's Jo and with a picture of Charlie and the toys with Lady Notorious.

We're taking a little break at home between the book tour of the south of England and the upcoming one of the north. In the south we mostly followed the route Cyn and Chastity took in (My) Lady Notorious. (The UK publisher dropped the my.) The picture on the right is at Southampton, which they didn't actually visit, but as they swung south or their way to Winchester, they would have come close.

The handsome young men in their regimentals, which were the sort Cyn would have worn, are to intrigue the passers-by, which they did very well as you can see. You'd like a closer look? If you click on any of the pictures here you can get a larger version.

The tall one on the left is Mr. England. Andreas is 24, which is a good age for some of my heroes. The other young man was local and I forgot to get his name, but he was very handsome with a lovely smile. Alas, he isn't smiling on any of my pictures, but here's a close up of the two with Everlyn's PR genious, Claire.

Lady Notorious is the first book of my Georgian series about the Malloren family, and if you've wondered, I pronounce that with the emphasis on the first syllable. MALLoren. And Mall as in pal, not as in a North American shopping mall.

You do all know that The Mall in London is pronounced like pal, yes? Ah, those English pronunciations. So tricky.

I've blogged with pics on my personal blog Jo Talk but I'll repeat some details here.

We started in Shaftesbury,which is still a lovely old town with plenty of old coaching inns, most converted to other uses, as in this one. You can see the pinkish building with the big, arched doors through which a coach would go to access the inn yard behind.

Here's a picture showing a coach leaving through such an arch. The old woman in the basket on the back looks in danger of a bump on the head! This is from "A Visit To The Wells" in Tunbridge Wells (home of my eccentric old Trayce ladies in Winter Fire, who also turn up in The Secret Duke.) It's a wonderful place to visit. 

By the way, have you ever wondered what an EO table was? It's an early form of roulette with only even and odd. Here's a picture from A Day At The Wells.

We moved on to Salisbury, where Cyn and Chastity stay at the Black Horse. This old inn still exists, but cut down to the main building. The arch now leads to a parking lot for a nearby office block.

We had a lovely launch party there, attended by the mayor of Salisbury.

Then we were on to Southampton and Winchester, then Cardiff where Everlyn Books is based. There, one of my soldiers was Mark Tancock, Mr. Wales. You might enjoy the slide show of all the finalists.

Wednesday, 11th was Newcastle and Stockton. Thursday, Scarborough and Whitby.

Today is Blackpool, and Saturday is my home town, Morecambe.

All the details are here.

Here are a few more pictures from the tour. The Bear in Maidstone, mentioned in Lady Notorious. (The Saracen's Head, where they stays, has given way to a Marks and Spencers.) Thatched cottages in Shaftesbury. An old street in Winchester. A view into the Cathedral close in Winchester.

   

And in case you've forgotten,Lord Wraybourne's Betrothed is out now.

Cheers,

Jo

Comments

[Maggie Robinson/Margaret Rowe]

What a chore this trip must be for you, Jo. ;) Thanks for sharing these wonderful pictures! The cover of Lady Notorious is lovely, and you look lovely, too. Your posts are my vicarious way of traveling. I was last in England in 2004, and I think it's time to plan a "research" vacation. Where can I find Andreas to help me?

[Linda Banche]

Well, what do you know--I was pronouncing "Malloren" correctly all the time and didn't even know it.

[Liz Brooks]

Love the men in uniform! *swoon*

[Cara Elliott/Andrea Pickens]

What a wonderful tour, Jo. I think you should bring home the two hunky soldiers to keep your cyber Captain Hornblower company They could always work in the cyber garden while they weren't performing other, ahem, duties!

[Patricia Rice]

Claire is indeed a genius if she thought of the hunky young men and regimentals! Did you plan the red blazer and boots to match? "G" I'm thrilled that there's still a publisher out there willing to promote books, and to do it so ingeniously. Three huzzahs for all concerned...

[London Hotels]

Sounds good. Tour is looking to be quite good. I also love travelling an dused to book my hotel via LMT. Thank you for post.

[Anne Gracie]

Jo, it sounds like a fabulous tour and I'm really enjoying the photos. Wish I could be there, carrying your bags or making cups of tea or something.

[Clare, in Cork, Ireland.]

Enjoyed reading about your trip!

[Jo Beverley]

Thanks, everyone. Sorry for being MIA but I stayed two days in Morecambe in my old home, where I was born, which was a hotel then and is a B&B now (The Broadwater http://www.thebroadwaterhotel.co.uk/ in case anyone wants to follow in my footsteps!)

It's lovely. And if you want the room where I was born, it's #3. Which was where I slept for two nights. Interesting. I had a tour etc, and I'll probably blog about the whole thing here soon. Recent history, at least.

But my mobile internet dongle was very weak and I only learned at the last minute that they had wi-fi. The trouble is that the walls are thick and solid and it's not penetrating the house yet -- they're getting boosters -- so they don't mention it, but I could have used it in the dining room.

Anyway, that's why I couldn't check in.

But I had a couple of great signings in Blackpool, where I went to secondary school, and in Morecambe, and then another with handsome heroes in Leeds. And let me tell you, one of the Leeds gentleman is definitely hero potential for a Jo Beverley novel! Maybe even Rothgar if he darkened his hair. Or Bryght, or Hawk in Devil's Heiress. Or Darien...

Definitely a Jo Beverley type. :)

More on him very soon at http://jobeverley.blogspot.com

Jo :)

[Sue]

Jo I am loving your blog, I wish I could be there. The handsome men add a very dramatic and visual touch. Thanks for the postings despite being so very busy. How are your books being received? Last year when I was in England there were very few historical romances on the shelves; I hope you are starting a revolution (or is it revival?).

[Anne]

Jo, I have a single sister who lives in London. Could you send Mr. Leeds her way? ;)

Love the rumpled Regimentals. :) Sounds like you're having fun. Thanks for sharing the fun!

[francois]

I live in The Mall (not not that one, but still in the UK) and it is amazing the number of people that pronounce it the American way. Not locals of course!